Global Governance of Migration

Labour migration feeds the global economy. There are around 232 million international migrants in the world today. At least 50 per cent are economically active. Around 50 per cent are women. Migration affects every region of the world, with many countries now simultaneously countries of origin, destination and transit. Vast numbers of people are on the move, not because they want to be, but because they feel they have no alternative. There are no jobs at home, no future, no life chances for them or their families. Or conflict may be raging in their countries. Many are prepared to risk it all, in search of any opportunity for a better life.

At the same time we have a near total collapse of the global governance of migration: the application of the rights-based body of international laws and standards that are supposed to govern the movement of people.

The importance of the application of a rights-based framework governing regular migration, refugees and asylum seekers, including the right to work without discrimination, is more urgent than ever.

Global Governance of Migration•News

The global trade union movement stands with the world’s 68 million refugees. While on a visit to Malmö, Sweden, trade union delegates from around the world demonstrated their support for the equal treatment of refugees and migrants so people are not exploited.

The ITUC, the Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI) and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) have welcomed the announcement by Qatar on 4 September of new legislation which means migrant workers covered by the Labour Code will not have to seek their employer’s permission to leave the country.

The ITUC has welcomed the recognition of the important role of trade unions in ensuring decent work for migrant workers in the Global Compact on Migration, but denounced the potential for exclusion of millions of workers from the protection of ILO standards.

The ITUC has supported a call by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, for solidarity with the world’s 68 million refugees. According to the UNHCR, around 90 per cent of refugees are displaced within their own country or countries next door.

The ITUC has launched a new web platform to help protect migrant workers from abusive employment practices, by providing them with peer-to-peer reviews about recruitment agencies in their country of origin and destination.